LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF

RING FOR A RANGER -- Former Kilgore College standout Lane Johnson (here, goofing with teammate Alshon Jeffrey) is getting a Super Bowl ring.

Courtesy photo from NBC SPORTS

Posted
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 10:00 pm

SOCCER

Kilgore back in action after early open date

After taking the weekend off, both Kilgore High School soccer teams were to jump back into the thick of District 16-4A play on Tuesday, then again this Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs were to host Tatum on Tuesday night, after the print deadline for this issue of the News Herald, and then will host Gladewater, varsity only, on Friday at 5 p.m. Kilgore’s boys were to visit Tatum Tuesday, and also host Gladewater on Friday, around 7 (Gladewater doesn’t have a junior varsity, so both varsity games are here).

Both of Kilgore’s teams are 2-0 in district play so far, with the bulk of the schedule, obviously, in front of them. Both of Kilgore’s teams are also the defending district champions, and Kilgore’s boys are the defending Class 4A state champions.

YOUTH BASEBALL

KBBA sign-up begins Saturday morning

Registration for the upcoming season of the Kilgore Boys Baseball Association – the first at the KBBA’s new complex – will begin this Saturday, Feb. 10, at the old complex, ironically, on Harris Street, near the pavilion, from 8 a.m. until noon.

Registration is $100 per player. Players should bring birth certificates.

Other sign-up dates will be next Saturday, Feb. 17, also from 8 a.m. until noon, and then Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., also both at the old KBBA complex. After that Wednesday, Feb. 21 sign-up date, there will be a $20 late fee added to registration.

Sign-up is already available online at kilgoreboysbaseballassociation.com. Also, see the KBBA’s Facebook page for updates.

Opening ceremonies will once again be at Driller Park on Saturday, March 17, and then the regular season will be played at the KBBA’s brand new complex across the street from Driller.

SOFTBALL

KC 2-2 so far, home today

Kilgore College’s softball Rangers went 2-2 last weekend in the Galveston College Invitational, losing their first two games (8-0 to Lamar State and 5-2 to Houston-Victoria) before winning the final two (3-2 over San Jacinto and a 15-1 rout of Alvin Community College).

Coach Leslie Messina’s Rangers will host Grayson County College in a doubleheader today, weather-permitting, starting at 1 p.m. at the Ballpark at KC Commons, located off Houston Street at the former site of Kilgore Heights.

The Rangers will also host Centenary College’s JV in a Sunday doubleheader, also starting at 1 p.m.

In the win over San Jac, KC trailed 2-0 early, but got an RBI double from Shelby Edwards to cut San Jac’s lead in half, then tied the game in the seventh on another RBI double by Devyn Power. San Jac actually walked in the tie-breaking run in a bases-loaded situation.

Against Alvin, Alyssa Maldonado and Hailey Nash each hit home runs – Maldonado had 4 RBI on three hits. Kourtlin Hunter also had an RBI single. KC had 17 hits, including three each by Maldonado and Edwards. Laci Hambalek, Christina Herrera, Nash and Tori Tovar each had more than one hit. Katy Worrell got the win, giving up just one run on eight hits. She didn’t issue a walk, and had two strikeouts.

FOOTBALL

Former Ranger helps Philly win Super Bowl

Former Kilgore College Ranger Lane Johnson, now an offensive lineman for Philadelphia, helped the Eagles beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII (52) last Sunday, 41-33 win.

Johnson played here as a quarterback and tight end. The Groveton native moved to offensive tackle while at Oklahoma, then was drafted fourth overall by the Eagles.

It was Philadelphia's first Super Bowl, and the first title of any kind for the Eagles since they captured the 1960 NFL Championship.

Johnson is the second former KC player to win a Super Bowl since 2000; Ricardo Colclough won with Pittsburgh in 2000 in 2006. Robbie Toebeck also played on Super Bowl teams in Atlanta and Seattle, but came up short of getting the win.